"The Social Structure of Britain was totally destroyed during the Battle of Britain" Do you agree? Discuss.

- INDIVIDUAL HISTORY ESSAY -

“The Social Structure of Britain was totally destroyed during the Battle of Britain” Do you agree? Discuss.

During the period between 1939 and 1945, a ferocious and deadly war was being fought between two super powers, Great Britain and Germany. Germany had been on a vengeful rampage, threatening to take total control of Europe; only one hurdle remained, Britain. The high command of Germany, Hitler and Goering were confident of a swift and glorious victory, humiliating Britain. The social structure of Britain was going to be totally destroyed in a merciless attack from the air, paralyzing the nation. Despite German confidence though, this would not be the case and in a great turn of events Britain would turn the tide of war and begin the road to victory. Although Britain were the eventual victors, their social system came perilously close to being crippled. For months Britain, particularly London, had to withstand a sustained bombing raid which killed many and seriously dampened an already low morale. Precautions were taken and people had to endure shortages and rationing. All in all, Britain was able to make do with the circumstances and battle through the darkest period in its history before being ultimately realised as the triumphant country.

Germany had conquered Poland, France, Austria and Belgium before reaching the English Channel and following a desperate evacuation from Dunkirk, Britain was able to pull a substantial number of its men back to the home front to prepare for the imminent invasion. Germany planned a ‘Blitzkrieg’ style attack that had been highly successful in taking control of the rest of Europe, particularly Poland. It was a form of warfare that caught the enemy by surprise, disabling their defenses. It commenced with a strong aerial assault followed by a swift advance by storm-troopers giving the opponent very little chance to mobilize and form any sort of resistance. For Germany, it was a chance to really test their airforce, the Luftwaffe, against a quality opposition in the RAF.

“The British airforce was Germany’s greatest threat as they saw it.” (Home front, Yahoo)

Despite being Germany’s most unyielding adversary, Britain was still strongly outnumbered and Germany’s supremacy should have ultimately led them to victory. The idea behind the aerial invasion was to destroy all of Britain’s coastal, naval, and air defenses and in doing so totally destroy their social structure. If all went to plan, there is no doubt that Britain would have comfortably been defeated due to a collapse in its economy and society but any chance of victory was shattered by poor leadership and incompetence within the German High Command.

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France were unable to prevent the lightening advance of the German armies mid way through the second World War leaving the Germans on Britain’s doorstep. On the 16th July 1940, plans were laid down for the invasion of Britain with the first stages of the offensive involving the destruction of coastal defenses and shipping. During the early partition of the battle, Germany suffered very few casualties compared to the amount of damage and destruction their airforce was causing. During the summer of 1940, Goering and the Luftwaffe pitted its entire strength against the British RAF and were bound for an overwhelming victory. The British defenses were not coping with the constant onslaught and its economical fate was now totally in German hands. In the world’s first, full-scale, strategic air battle, the RAF were suffering casualties twice that of the Luftwaffe. However, on the 12th of August, Goering made a serious blunder, which would result in the eventual downfall of the Luftwaffe. Instead of pressing the offensive, that was proving very successful, he began to spread his attacks out allowing the RAF to recover and reassert their position. A second mistake followed when the orders were again altered. This time directions were to target industrial centres rather than the increasingly weakening airfields again allowing for periods of rejuvenation. Plans for the total destruction of the British social structure by the Germans was starting to show signs of weaknesses despite causing desolation along their borders.

In these instantaneous change of events the British public started to feel the strain and heartbreak of war. Although, initially, not directly targeting civilians during raids on industrial centres, many bombs dropped by the Luftwaffe fell upon streets and houses, killing people and destroying property. In defiance of German aims, “the bombing of industrial centres failed to prevent factories ability to keep pace with demands”. In one case, a misguided bomb fell on a densely populated area triggering a retaliation in which British bombers attacked Berlin provoking a counter retaliation known as the ‘Blitz’. On the 3rd of September, the Luftwaffe’s attack was concentrated on a helpless London. This was a mistake that had major consequences for the Germans.

“If they had continued to bomb Fighter Command and the RAF there is no doubt that Germany would have won the whole war!” (Readers Digest)

A series of night raids followed causing significant losses of life and damage but there would be little faltering in Britain’s war efforts. Bombing continued into the middle of the following year, violently disrupting life. By mid-October of 1940, the attack had been postponed, Germany had been humiliated and had lost their greatest chance to stamp their authority on the entire war.

“German bombing did not stop war production or force the British to surrender”. (Web site – Home front)

Britain did not win the war, Germany lost it.

Britain didn’t actually win the Battle of Britain, Germany simply withdrew to pursue more important matters. Some would argue this as a victory because it ultimately led to the eventual result of the entire war. However, the battle came at a calamitous cost. Many lives were saved though by the efficient organisation, and precautions taken by the British government and public. Preparations for war began well before 1938 as Britain were afraid civilians would be targeted. The real threat was that Germany would use gas and as a precaution every person in Britain was issued with a gas mask. People were also instructed on how to deal with a bomb raid, precautions they should take and how to work around the effects these precautions were having. Britain’s Secretary of State for Air cautiously described the impact of these precautions by saying,

“The precautions taken were however, a huge burden on the country but it would be a grave mistake to relax them.” (Shelters)

On May 10 1940, Chamberlain resigned as Prime Minister of England and was replaced by the passionate and patriotic, Winston Churchill. He preached to the nation, “Whatever the cost and agony, we shall not surrender”, in an attempt to rouse support and ensure public confidence. He had to fight the wavering morale after the humiliating disaster at Dunkirk. In further attempts to secure the safety of the public, two million children were evacuated to the countryside and street signs were stripped to confuse the enemy. After Hitler realised he had lost the battle by day, he launch a night assault on cities and towns for which the British had no answer. The effects of the bombing were referred to as “indescribable desolation”.

During this period, known as the Blitz, raids generated infernos of flames, smashed brickwork and black asphyxiated smoke. On lookers explained,

“Entire streets simply vanished”. (Readers Digest, p.17)

“All of London seemed to be consumed by flames”. (Video, SOS)

The brunt of the attacks were felt by the East End where the docks were seen as important targets. Britain, particularly London, was facing total destruction and defeat at the hands of the Germans. London was bombed from dusk till dawn. During a three week period in September 1940, approximately ten thousand bombs were dropped on the capital. In the nine month stint, forty thousand people were killed but that was only a tenth of the predicted estimate, suggesting that Germany had failed in their objective of crippling the British societal fraternity. One civilian who experienced the ‘Blitz’, James Mackay, stated,

“You would be surprised to see, if you were here, how normal everything really is”. (Diary form the Shelters, 13/10/40)

There was, unquestionably, a serious threat to common life in Britain but the strong will and persistence of the civilians in never giving up, gave Germany a never ending task, one they could not afford to pursue.

The bombing raids left in its wake a terrible trail of disaster. In total just over 60,000 people were killed on the home front throughout the duration of the war. Many were faced with the tragedy of homelessness, of which one in six Londoner’s suffered. All in all, one and a half million people were left without a home. The war on the home front was becoming increasingly difficult as the German’s persisted in their psychological campaign to destroy the will of the British. Other problems started to arise out of the aftermath of the bombing. Looting became common place as thieves rummaged through abandoned shops and homes. The black market also thrived as people sought goods at more affordable prices. Other issues started to arise out of the devastation such as the smell of dead body and smoldering rubble. A builder in the recovery brigade pointed out that,

“People began to recognise a horrible stench that was forming as if everything was unclean”. (Readers Digest)

To make matters worse, water from extinguishers was also beginning to cause floods. In course of these hardships James Mackay also recalled,

“People are marvelously cheerful and maintain wonderful spirit in spite of the dislocation and difficulty caused by constant disturbance.” (Diary, 13/10/40)

This is evidence that, although disheartened and phased by the whole ordeal, the British public were strong enough to withstand a collapse in the structure of their lives.

Whenever bombs fell, everyday life was violently disrupted and people just had to learn to ‘make do’. Gradually people got used to the daily ordeal and during the period between dawn and dusk, it was work as usual. Everyone also became used to the throb of aircraft, partly due to the regularity and routine of the raids. A newspaper heading described the impact of the raids well. “Not A Mortal Blow – Work Will Restart.” During the wartime, the people on the British home front were forced to ration many of the essentials. This proved popular with the people because of its fairness. The rich were hit just as much as the poor. A Brit recalled,

“We never starved but we ate some bloody funny things.”

“The aim was to make Britain as self sufficient as possible.” (Readers Digest, p.26)

Clothing was rationed in June of 1941. In order to survive the onslaught of the Battle of Britain, sacrifices had to be made, and as a result of this, benefits were reaped. The civilian population still enjoyed entertainment such as the theatre and cinema where, “for a few pence the dark streets and bombs were forgotten. Over twenty five million tickets were sold each week for the cinema. The radio also served as a lifeline and morale booster. It was over the radio that the British people heard Churchill’s stirring broadcasts to the nation. Life at one social level, the middle class, had been radically effected but this does not mean it effected all social levels, and so ultimately if one level of the social structure was destroyed another always remained and therefore it was not ever totally ravished.

After two years, people’s spirits had been tested in every corner of the country and “despite the devastation, neither society nor morale had collapsed”. The people of London had endured total, merciless war, yet it failed to breakdown the vitality of Britain. There was not a complete collapse in social structure as Giulio Douhet, an Italian General, had suggested. The Home front had held and worked together to keep the nation stabilised, whilst still keeping up with the demands of the war effort. They hadn’t been haltered by the vindictive offensive of the German Luftwaffe and remained strong in times of perilous desolation and agony. The experts had over-estimated the ability of the Germans and their High Command. Hitler’s impatience and Goering’s incompetence had ultimately thrown victory and dominance of Europe out of their own hands and into that of the British. It proved to be a major turning point in the war when Britain, began to step out of their shadows, and begin their prosperous road to victory.